Lennon says Griffiths has problems and has vowed to support him (Image: SNS Group)

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NEIL LENNON last night vowed to help Leigh Griffiths deal with his issues and get the Celtic star back on the straight and narrow.

And the Parkhead manager has confirmed he expects his controversial attacker to be part of his set-up next season. Lennon was unable to elaborate on the hitman’s disciplinary position with police and club investigations into incidents on the day of last month’s Edinburgh derby “running parallel”. Griffiths is under review for singing about Hearts and their former player, Rudi Skacel.

An SFA hearing is scheduled for Thursday after compliance officer Vincent Lunny, left, took notice of the situation.

But Griffiths is available for today’s clash at Motherwell and Lennon said: “The kid has a few issues that we need to attend to.

“As a professional, he’s no problem at all. The worry is the stuff away from the park.

“He’s a bit daft but there are other issues that have a serious connotation to them and are private and personal. His life away from football must be addressed. It’s difficult to interfere as you end up playing God with them at times.

“You can’t run their lives away from the park but you must make them aware of responsibilities.

“It’s probably been a chastening experience for him in some ways.

“He’s very disappointed and upset. The head’s been down for a week or so. It’s part of his education and I can help him from my experiences.

“I had a full and frank chat with him a few weeks ago and he knows I will support him.

“His personality is actually very quiet but he gets in with a different crowd and maybe gets influenced by them.

“I’ve come across a lot of players who have had issues.

“We will manage Leigh and get him on the straight and narrow as it were.

“He’s not a bad boy, just a bit easily influenced. Reactive rather than being able to take a step back.”

In the past, Lennon insisted there would be a zero tolerance to racism at Celtic.

He stands by that but with no case proven against Griffiths at this stage he said: “You can’t ask me that question until the investigation is over.

“It’s a police investigation and we have our own club investigation.”

When asked if he was confident of Griffiths being at Celtic next season, the manager said: “Yes.”